Socket and terminal connection for electric lamps.



W. U. TREGONING.

SOCKET AND TERMINAL CONNECTION FOE ELECTRIC LAMPS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

A snares EATER? WILLIAM C. TREGONING, OB CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOK TO TEE TREGCNIKG ELEG- T'BIC MANUFACTURING COMEANY, OF CLEVELAND, SE16, A CORFORATIUN.

SGCKET AND TERMINAL CONNECTION FOR ELECTRIC LAM?S. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fat-tented Get. 11 2, igi

Application filed June 5, 1911. Serial No. 631,313.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VrLLIAM C. TRnooN- me, a citizen of the United States. residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahcga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sockets and Terminal Connections for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My inventior-r relates to improvements in sockets and terminal connections for electric lamps, and my general object is to simplify the construction of the socket in sevoral material features to obtain various improved results, substantially as herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accom mnying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a socket embodying a portion of my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a cross section corresponding to line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the socket member alone, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 1, but at right angles thereto, disclosing the electric terminals. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View corresponding t no 2-2, Fig. 1 with the attachments seer. .n 2 removed. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are details of the electrical terminal elements as hereinafter fully described.

This invention is particularly related to sockets for electric signs or wherever the socket is seated behind asupporting plate or within a box or receptacle, and the invention comprises for the most part the electrical terminal members or parts located in the inner or closed end of the socket and from which the screw shell S is removable without removing the socket from the plate P or the respective terminals 2 and 3 from the'socket. Not infrequently it occurs that the screw Shell becomes injured or defective and requires replacement. and with my present construction the shell can be removed by merely loosening but not removing one of the terminals while the other one remains fixed. and then a new screw shell can be substituted with ease and despatch and without disturbing the Wiring within the sign or box. By this improvement also the number of fastening screws is reduced and the usual mica insulating disk is eliminoted and one of the fruitful sources of leakage of the current is overcome. The present parts also are simplified in construction as compared with those hitherto used and are so disposed in: relationto each other that short circuibingat any point is rendered impossible.

Now, returning to the construction or the parts it will be observed that the shell- S has a central transversosoperring a through its upper or outer portion about one-half the depth of the shell and approximately one-third the width, and that on either side of this opening the remaining bottom portion consists of two fiat side sections 4.

A feature of the socket B is a central 0st or projection in the topthereot exten ing inward to such distance that it provides an internal rest or seat for the head it ozf the terminal member 2 entirely removed from the other terminal member 3 and iironr the base of the shell. The said terminal 2 has a shouldered otl set 9 corresponding in depth to the depth of post 5' so that the said terminal may rest its head 7L lint upon said lug while the body thereof lies fiat in the transverse channel 0 in the socket head, Fig. 5, and can be tired therein by screw 6 at one side of the center of the socket as shown in 4, the said terminal entering the socket through one of the side recesses 7 therein. In this case the screw 6 is from without the socket though not necessarily, and might be from within like screw 8 which secures the terminal 3. However, thescrew 8 is necessarily engaged fromwithin the socket because the invention is planned to use this screw as a means not only for fastening terminal 3 down upon the bottom sections of the shell but to release the same to allow the shell or thimble to be rotated a quarter turn to release it and withdraw it bodily from the socket. To this end the screw remains always exposed where it can be reached by means of an ordinary screw driver if small enough to enter the space at the side of the stud or post 5.

Now. respecting the said terminal member 3. it will be seen that said member as shown in Fig. 8 is of substantially T shape with a rounded recess 9 in its head between its arms I), which have relatively small lugs or studs (Z on their extremities and adapted to engage in corresponding holes e in the bottom sectiens of tl' shell. Corresponding holes 10 are also formed in the head of the socket into which said lugs may penetrate more or less, and in operation the shell S designed to be inserted with its opening 0 directly over "the cross arms .7). and then pressed down so as to bring its bottom sections 4 flat on the inner surface of the socket. h teantiane the terminal 3 is left; free enough on its fastening screw 8 to permit the said bottom flanges to be given a quarter turn beneath said arms and engage the studs (Z through the holes 2 therein. This hein; done the screw 9 is tightened and the shell is thus locked against rotation while it is also brought into electrical eonnta-tiion with said terminal through said arms. The other terminal 2 is engaged uponits head 71 by the lamp not shown. and the r-ireuit through the lamp is thus completed.

In Fig. 9 l show a modification of the terminal member fl. which also has the T shape With stem and arms adapted to he used in the same m'anneas the terminal in Fig. 8 but intended to be employed when post in the Socket is omitted. in such ease the depression between the arms serv to n large the spa e between aid terminal an the terminal 2 and prevent possible sh rt cireuiting.

It Will he understood that the general practice is to seal the rear openings tor screws land 8 with wax or other insulating material. and the etorr. the nut 12 t'or srrew retains its place when the .\'(5\V is loosened or bodily removed to r lease and remove the screw shell. ln this Mpm'nl'inll or assent bling at the parts ttnright-handed reta tion of arms I; to the laatv ot' terminal memher 3 is important; as al o th ventrally alined position ot' tharms within the bottom oi the socket.

What i claim is:

l. .n ele trical market. a t rminal ther in provided with two oppo:--itet v 1.71Oj0tttllh'f arms having tags on one side, a shell having lmttom porti ns provided with holes adapted. to be engaged by said lugs, and means to tighten said terminal on the socket and thereby fasten said shell.

2. In electric lamps, a socket and a shell. therein having a transverse opening through the bottom thereof and flat bottom portions at the sides of said opening, in combination.

with a substantially T-shaped terminal engaging said bottom portions and a screw to fasten said terminal in the socket.

3. An electric socket and a partially divided shell therein having two flat bottom 1 n-tions (nipositet'r provided each with a hole, in combination with a terminal having lateral arms with lugs on one side adapted to enter said holes and prevent rotation of said shell and a screw to look said terminal in place.

4-. An electric socket having a central pos a substantially T-shaped terminal having its arms extending laterally from the haseot said post and a shell adapted to make elertrieal contact, with said arms and held in place thereby and a serew entered from thrinside of said shell bimtting said erminal in lawo through said socket.

5. An ler-triral socket having a post centrally in its top. a terminal of substantially 'l'- :bape having a recess engaged about the ase t said postand arms extending oppositely tln-retron'n a shell engaged beneath said arms and a screw fixing said terminal in [llflt(.

(t. .\n electrical socket provided with aprst at it middle and top extending inwardly. a substantially T-shaped terminal having arms extending oppositelyfrom the base ot said post. a shell having opposite flat bottom pm-tions engaged beneath said arms and interlocked therewith against rotation amt a terminal resting on said post.

in testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WTLLlkltl lllltliGtilNTNG. ll itnessest ll. M. FISHER i Mrssrx. 

